Cape Town Creatives Can Now Work for Free at Africa’s First Creative-Tech Hub

A new wave of opportunity has arrived for the city’s creative sector. The timbuktoo Creative Hub, the first of its kind in Africa, has officially opened its doors in District Six — and it’s inviting local and pan-African creatives to use the space and services for free.

Positioned at the Homecoming Centre (the former Athol Fugard Theatre), the hub offers Cape Town’s designers, storytellers, animators, musicians and other creatives a purpose-built home to co-work, connect and scale their businesses — without the typical cost barriers.

Backed by a powerhouse partnership between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), UVU Africa, the Craft and Design Institute, and youth-focused media network Snake Nation, the initiative is designed to unlock South Africa’s creative economy — one entrepreneur at a time.

“Creative industries are a major driver of economic growth, yet African creatives often lack access to the resources, networks and funding needed to scale their businesses,” says Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development at UVU Accelerate. “We’re inviting Cape Town’s creative community to come and experience the facilities and support we’ve developed specifically for them.”

What’s on offer at the hub?

The timbuktoo Creative Hub isn’t just another co-working space. It’s a strategic investment in creative-tech innovation. Features include:

• Free workspace and uncapped WiFi

• Access to creative community events

• Technology mentorship and digital upskilling

• An entrepreneur-in-residence for hands-on business advice

• Sector-specific support in music, AR/VR, fashion tech and animation

And if you can’t find the support you need at the Hub itself, UVU Accelerate’s network of partners and platforms stands ready to help.

Why this matters now

Africa’s creative economy is gaining momentum — and South Africa sits at a key intersection of talent and opportunity. But too many creators still struggle to turn side hustles into sustainable businesses. With more than 280 applicants already expressing interest in the Creative Accelerator programme, demand for this kind of targeted support is undeniable.

The hub is part of the broader timbuktoo platform, an Africa-wide innovation initiative by the UNDP aimed at unlocking the continent’s next wave of startups and scaleups.

“Every groundbreaking venture starts with an audacious idea and the courage to nurture it,” says Maxwell Gomera, UNDP South Africa Resident Representative and Director of the UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub. “Through the timbuktoo Creative Hub, we’re not just incubating businesses — we’re cultivating a generation of creative entrepreneurs who understand that Africa’s stories, innovations and cultural expression aren’t just our heritage, they’re our competitive advantage.”

For entrepreneurs at any stage

Whether you’re refining an early idea or ready to grow a creative venture into new markets, the hub’s doors are open. The venue is also available for creatives to host their own community events — reinforcing the space’s vision as a collaborative, pan-African precinct where ideas and businesses grow side by side.

Interested creatives are encouraged to visit the timbuktoo Creative Hub at the Homecoming Centre or reach out via connect@uvuaccelerate.com to learn more or get involved.

Africa’s creative revolution is here — and in Cape Town, it starts at street level.